Hera Hussain - founder of CHAYN
Our next p//h balanced interview is with the impressive and inspirational Hera Hussain. Founder of CHAYN - a global volunteer-run social enterprise addressing gender-based violence - Hera is a champion in the fight to empower vulnerable women worldwide. Born in Scotland, raised in Pakistan and currently living in the UK, Hera knew from early on she wanted to empower women. When she moved to the UK for university she initially wanted to explore the idea of ethical fashion to support women facing abuse with employment and training, however over time she started working more in tech start ups.
By chance Hera was tasked with helping 2 friends escape abusive relationships during which time she experienced the challenging hurdles of finding basic information on victims rights without falling into a “rabbit hole” of jargon. This desire for critical information in easily accessed formats is what Hera felt was missing in helping to change lives and support women globally. This is how CHAYN started. Hera is an ardent believer in using the power of open source technology and open data to solve the world's pressing issues.
To date, CHAYN has reached more than 200,000 people through it's resources which are designed with survivors of abuse to insure that the information is provided through easily accessed, clear and empowering means of communication. Through her experiences at CHAYN Hera has come to understand that many survivors are disenfranchised to the ways in which traditional charities have approached providing support, and that women are instead turning to the web for help.
By giving survivors the power to create solutions for others like them, CHAYN is not only creating better resources but also giving many survivors the respect and self-confidence that they deserve. When Hera isn’t running Chayn in her spare time, she works with governments to open datasets to fight corruption. Hera was on the Forbes 30 Under 30 and MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 list. Well deserved accolades for such a passionate advocate for women’s rights.
